Thistle takes its name from a golf club founded in 1815 on Leith Links in Edinburgh, and its street address, 1815 Olde Thistle Club Road, nods to the date. The North Carolina club opened in 1999 with 27 holes by Tim Cate, and it calls itself a public golf club. The holes sit in what the club describes as a nature preserve of wildflowers and wetlands in Sunset Beach, and the Scottish-style clubhouse displays relics of the original Leith club.
Thistle Golf Club green fees and tee times.
Thistle is a public club. Book tee times online through its TeeItUp booking page, linked from the club website, or call the pro shop on (910) 444-2500. Check in at the pro shop before play. The website does not publish green fees or a booking window, and rates on the online tee sheet change by date and time. The Hickory Stick loyalty card rewards repeat rounds. Juniors under 15 play at a discounted rate before 1pm with a paying adult, and children aged five and under are not allowed on the course.
The courses at Thistle Golf Club.
Cameron
Cameron appears in two of the three rated rounds. With MacKay it gives the highest rating at the club, 74.4 from the Thistle tees, and with Stewart a 73.6, though both pairings carry the same 141 slope from the back. From the White tees the gap is similar: 69.5 with MacKay, 68.4 with Stewart.
MacKay
Golfbreaks calls MacKay the most scenic and dramatic of the three nines, with water in play on several holes. It features in the two highest-rated pairings, 74.4 with Cameron and 74.0 with Stewart, so a round that includes MacKay is the one to book if your group wants the full test.
Stewart
Stewart pairs with Cameron for the lowest rating from the back tees, 73.6, and with MacKay for 74.0. From the Gold tees, Cameron and Stewart rate 65.7 with a 112 slope, which makes that combination the gentler choice for a second round on a long day or a mixed-ability group.
The round, in perspective.
The scorecard carries two par-36 nines and one par-35 nine, from about 3,350 to 3,560 yards each from the Thistle tees, so some pairings play to par 71. From those back tees, MacKay and Cameron together rate 74.4 with a slope of 141, the stiffest test here; Stewart and MacKay come in at 74.0 and 140, and Cameron and Stewart at 73.6 and 141. Every pairing has eight rated tee options, down to a Teal pace-of-play set that rates about 64, and the scorecard suggests tees by driving distance, from Teal for a 150-yard drive up to Thistle for 275. MyrtleBeachGolf.com names a par-5 16th, which asks for a precise approach over water, as the signature hole.
Know before you go.
Dress
Golf shorts of a tasteful length; no short shorts, cargo shorts or trousers, or denim of any colour
Shoes
Golf shoes with non-penetrating spikes
Hats
Brim forward
Juniors
Under 15 discounted before 1pm with a paying adult; age 5 and under not permitted
Pro shop
(910) 444-2500
Make the trip work.
Ask for the MacKay and Cameron pairing if your group wants the full test, or Stewart with Cameron for a gentler round. The dress code rules out cargo shorts and denim, so pack accordingly. The clubhouse has a full-service bar, the Pot Bunker Pub, serving lunch and appetisers, and the club runs open events through the season, including a Black Friday shoot-out. The original Leith club’s 1824 rule book is part of its history display.
From Myrtle Beach International (MYR), head north on US 17 through North Myrtle Beach and over the state line; MyrtleBeachGolf.com puts the club about 25 miles from central Myrtle Beach in a straight line. Wilmington (ILM) is the other option, approaching from the north on US 17.
Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach and Calabash all have rental homes and small hotels a few minutes from the gates; Thistle itself sits within a residential community. For a wider choice of hotels, base yourself in North Myrtle Beach and drive up for a morning tee time, which also keeps Barefoot and Tidewater close.
Make a trip of it.
The Pearl, a Dan Maples layout beside the Calabash River, is minutes away and makes the obvious second round. Tidewater, on the marsh at Cherry Grove, and Barefoot Resort in North Myrtle Beach are both reachable in about half an hour. Away from golf, Bird Island and the Kindred Spirit mailbox are at the west end of Sunset Beach.
Find your season.
Spring and autumn are busiest. Winter rounds are cheaper and the course stays open; summer brings heat and humidity, so morning tee times are popular from June to August. Check the events calendar for shoot-outs and tournaments that close the tee sheet.
Yes. The club describes itself as a public golf club with 27 holes, and tee times are bookable online by anyone through its TeeItUp page or by calling (910) 444-2500.
What is the connection between Thistle and Leith?
The original Thistle Golf Club was founded in 1815 and played on Leith Links. It published a rule book in 1824 and was revived on 5 April 1866 after 36 years of inactivity. The Sunset Beach club keeps the name alive and displays trophy clubs, scorecards and the 1824 rule book.
Which nines are hardest at Thistle?
MacKay with Cameron, at 74.4 and 141 slope from the Thistle tees, according to the club’s slope and rating table. Stewart with MacKay is close behind at 74.0 and 140; Cameron with Stewart rates 73.6.
Last checked 11 November 2026. This is an independent planning guide, not a first-hand review or a booking service. Check live availability, access, fees and travel details with the operator before booking. Airport suggestions are starting points for route planning.
